Q&A with Connaire McNulty

Teaching was not my initial plan, but after completing my masters in Esports the opportunity to teach here arose and I took a chance. At the beginning of my teaching journey, I expected to use sports coaching as a template, building on the real-life and digital knowledge I already had, but I soon began to notice unexpected complexities. As the College’s first Esports tutor, I was given a lot of freedom to grow the course and create potential pathways for students to follow. I designed the course to mirror the Esports industry while also supporting our students to develop the skills they’ll require in both in Esports, more traditional jobs and everyday life. Teaching has pushed me to develop in many ways to become a pillar for the students and help them to succeed.

My role as a teacher has been inspired by experiences with my own teachers. Be them good or bad, my memories, particularly from completing a Level 3 BTEC in Sport, have shaped the approach I have today. I have an incredible appreciation for all my former teachers and sincerely hope my students will be able to say the same about me in years to come.

The Academy has a wide offering for all students regardless of what course they’re on. As with our Esports opportunities, every one of our amazing NSCG Academy of Sport facilities are open to all students – maybe this is one of the reasons we see such great success.

Esports! Basically, anything digital that isn’t usually classed under the same umbrella as traditional sport. Including Esports in the Academy of Sport means we can cater to most interests and provide a wider range of opportunities at no cost to the students.

Back when I was in college, I actually did martial arts, Tae Kwon Do and Gymnastics, basically, anything that made me feel like a ninja! Unfortunately, I developed injuries that meant I could no longer compete or train – this is where Esports comes in. My roommate showed me Overwatch and I immediately saw it as a great competitive alternative to my former sports. This developed into coaching amateur teams in 2019 and then working at a semi-professional level as a Physical Wellbeing Performance Coach in 2020. 

The unpredictability. Esports has a way of giving you situations and storylines you don’t typically find in traditional sports, it keeps you on the edge of your seat as you watch a team from behind claw their way back to victory. 

At the top level it’s not just about playing the game anymore. Much like traditional sports, it’s the communication, resilience, emotional regulation and what players do around the game that really makes them stand out.

In 2022/23 our Rocket League team won the nationals, but not only that, the finals themselves were incredible and one match in particular will always stick with me. We were 0-3 down and losing hope, but we managed to claw it back with some sensational play and resilience, and the whole team really banded together by chanting and generally boosting morale.

Definitely the students. The interactions I have with them and the growth I get to see in them throughout their time with us is amazing.

The people. Whether it’s the students or staff, they all help make the College what it is. 

There’s so much on offer, and all of it supports students as they explore new interests, along with helping to develop the vital skills often linked to sport like communication and resilience. 

College can be quite intimidating, but everyone is in the same position when they first walk through that door. Taking a step out of your comfort zone to take part in as much as possible will help you connect with new people and make new friends.